It was a rather subdued party that sat down to their last breakfast in the beautiful lagoon of Tai-o-Vai. Jim was, as usual, apparently immersed in his own thoughts and uncommunicative. The reaction after the recent excitement had left even Tempest quiet. He kept casting a professional eye at the sky, and seemed engrossed only in the thought of their long run back. Dave glanced occasionally in the direction of the silvery beach. His grey eyes were thoughtful. This was the end of their adventures, and the least satisfactory part of them because it involved failure. And failure was a thing which rankled in the minds of all the Hallards. Like his father and his grandfather, Dave hated to be beaten, whatever object he had set his mind on. “You look mighty pensive, sonny,” Tempest observed, dipping a hard biscuit into his coffee and munching it. “Always remember there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.” “It’s not the size of the fish I am concerned about, so much as losing it,” the boy replied. “Tempest, I’m really sorry now that I ever mentioned this rotten treasure to you. You’ve been fine right through. I do wish you could have got a fortune out of it.” “A fortune!” said his friend. “I’d be as miserable as a yellow pup with a tin can tied to its tail if I had a fortune.” “Well, half of what we might have found, anyway,” said Dave. “That would have depended on the amount of the treasure,” mused Tempest. “If I had a lot of money, I should be unhappy till it was all gone except about five thousand dollars. That’s the share of the treasure I should have taken――just enough to let me settle down on a small farm in South Carolina where I was reared. I wouldn’t have touched another penny, not only because I shouldn’t want it, but because I shouldn’t feel I had any right to accept more. You see, I’m only one of your crew, the same as Jim, really. However, that’s neither here nor there now. When you’re quite ready we will make a move. There’s a fair breeze.” Dave, however, was not inclined to hurry away. “I can’t get the idea of that hut out of my mind,” he said slowly. “What about it?” “Well, suppose some of the people off the _Hatteras_ got ashore here, don’t you think they would have made an effort to fetch the platinum off the bark as soon as they had a chance?” “Why, yes, I suppose they would,” agreed Tempest, wrinkling his brows. “I’ve thought of that already. Even at this minute it may be buried somewhere on Tai-o-Vai, but we’re not out exactly on a mining expedition. You are not proposing digging all over the island, are you?” “No, Tempest,” said Dave, seriously, “but I surely would like to see exactly what there is in that hut. It wouldn’t take us very long to dig it out, would it?” “Certainly not. I’m game. Let’s take the shovels ashore and get to work.”